Caregivers Win 18% Wage Increases, Improvements in Health Insurance & Other Benefits

Rockville Centre, NY: Direct patient care workers at Mercy Hospital, members of 1199SEIU, overwhelmingly approved a new three-year contract with 18% wage increase over the next three years. On top of the 18%, several job titles, including those with the lowest rates of pay, will get additional wage increases next year.

“This is the biggest win since we voted to join the union. People said it couldn’t be done, but we did it,” said Manny Oxilus, a clinical laboratory associate who has worked at Mercy for 14 years. “This contract has competitive wages and benefits that will help attract new talent and workers–and better staffing means better patient care.”

Over 500 staff working in dietary, transport, patient care, housekeeping, pharmacy, and other areas of the hospital now have the option to use an improved Catholic Health Select Plan that includes $0 premiums, $0 copays for doctor visits, $0 co-pays for treatment at any Catholic Health Emergency Department and $0 co-pays for treatment at any Catholic Health urgent care partners.

“The pay increases we fought for and won are substantial. A lot of us have been working overtime or two jobs to survive. I did the calculations, and they are going to make a big difference in my life,” explained Dawn Naughton, who has worked as a dietary aide for 15 years at the facility.

Other highlights of the contract include increases to night and evening differentials, a larger uniform allowance, and additional pay for designated caregivers who provide training to other staff. 

“This contract is a long time coming. We fought to the bitter end, and we prevailed with good intent for our 1199 Mercy family,” said Tracy Fraser-Lewis, a unit secretary who is celebrating her 23rd year of employment at Mercy Hospital this month.  

The 1199SEIU members also fought for and won MLK day as an additional paid holiday and the option to take Juneteenth as a paid holiday. This is the third contract for the Mercy Hospital staff who joined 1199SEIU in 2017 and brings their compensation and benefits closer to that of other 1199SEIU members in the greater New York area.

Mercy Hospital is part of the Catholic Health system which operates six hospitals, three nursing homes, a home health service, hospice, and a network of physician practices throughout Long Island.

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1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East is the largest and fastest-growing healthcare union in New York and nationwide. We represent over 450,000 total members throughout New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Maryland, Florida, and Washington, D.C.  Our mission is to achieve quality care and good jobs for all.